Two Years Today

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Rocking In 2009!

Hard to believe another year has bit the dust. I just read this post which made me laugh, my new years resolution for 2008 was to talk less and listen more. I think I managed to listen more but the talking less bit... well that's just a silly resolution for someone who rarely closes her mouth.

We brought in the new year with some of our closest friends, I have no clue what they were doing in the picture above but it was snapped just after hugs and cheers. Unfortunately a few of our regulars were unable to join us: Moscow, Germany, Vancouver, cruise ships and work commitments kept them from us. Not here in body but certainly here in spirit. We missed you ladies!

That's a post-spaghetti and pre-gin glow you see on our faces here. We filled our bellies with lots of carbs to ensure there was a good base for alcohol absorption - no hangover here thank you very much.

A good deal of our dinner conversation revolved around profanity and the many marvelous ways nasty words can be used in our day to day lives: enlightening.

Of course I brought in the new year with the love of my life at my side.

My new years resolutions for this year:
1) healthy living: be more active and eat more fruits & veggies (I didn't bother with this resolution last year because I knew I would FAIL but I'm serious about it this year so I'm putting it in writing)
2) curse less
3) call/email/skype my out of province girlfriends more often

I'm now part of a girl band with the uber classy name the Magina Vonologues. Don't ask.
Guitar Hero rocks.

How was YOUR New Years Eve? Happy recovering.

Happy Holidays!

Flickr photo thanks to Gizmo_F

I'm hoping all of you have had a stellar Christmas, I certainly did. I've eaten enough turkey to last me a lifetime and although I'm still stuffed (we had Christmas number 2 today) I'm seriously considering crawling to the fridge to snag a slab of stuffing. My second mom makes the best stuffing ever created by human hands. Seriously. Just writing about it is causing my full belly to growl -- stuffing and wine, oh my. The bonus of hosting big dinners is leftovers and I have a massive chunk of stuffing sitting in my fridge waiting to be devoured. Oh and there's the cheesy cauliflower too... oh no.

A big thanks to Sarah for Christmas dinner number one, it was fab. Thankfully the snow stopped falling Christmas eve (our snow banks were 7 feet high after mike dug out the 5 ft of snow at the end of our driveway left by the plow) so Christmas day was perfect for traveling, not that we had very far to go. It was a lovely day with unexpected appearances from Mr. Napkin head and Prince Napkin head. If only someone had snapped a photo of the original Mr. Napkin Head - it's one of those 'had to be there' moments but trust me when I say my dad caught all of us off guard and it was hilarious.

Today we cooked the bird for the other half of our family. Gertrude, affectionately named Gertie, was a pretty turkey and tasted delish.

Mike and I were spoiled rotten by our families: loads of lovely gifts! We slept covered in our new duvet last night and it was heavenly; I'm currently wrapped up in the softest blanket ever and we have enough chocolate around here to last a lifetime. A zillion lovely gifts, far too many to name but I'll definitely share some of them with you over the next couple of weeks. One will be my new fab pick of the week.

I'm chopping the lid tomorrow, I'm desperately in need of a cut considering my last one was in September! Ick, my hair is a mess. I'm going to a new stylist and trying a new cut - not sure if a brand new style is a smart idea with someone I've never been to but I'm going to give it a shot and hope to hell I don't end up with a hack job. I'll report back to you soon, I'm sure you'll think of NOTHING but my hair until you hear from me again.

I can't resist it any longer, stuffing and wine here I come.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Happy Birthday Big Bro!!

My big brother turns 44 today. Happy Birthday John!

Did I say 44? I meant 34. Seriously, he's 34 going on 14.

On this date many years ago (for MANY years in a row) John would be threatening to tell me what all of my Christmas gifts were if I didn't tell him one or two of his. He couldn't handle not knowing and I loved being surprised. Of course the reality was he would have never told me what my presents were but I was convinced he would ruin it for me so I would always give in and tell him a gift or two.

As if you really needed me to tell you John! You were the master present opener and re-sealer. There was just one year I gave in and looked with you and I totally regretted it on Christmas morning.

Although you are were a total pain in the ass big brother who looked out for me rather than buying me vodka and cigarettes - what nerve!! And even though we could have been aired on UFC on more than one occasion - I so did NOT throw a knife at you, you simply imagined that... or maybe I blocked it out? I have loads of fond memories of us growing up and I love you more than you know John. I am lucky to have you as a big brother and I'm lucky to have you as a friend now that we are bigger kids adults. and I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you, you are an amazing man and a phenomenal father.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday bro! May all of your birthday wishes come true.

Oh and I made you a little something for your birthday - everyone feel free to check this out and have a good laugh on John's expense. John this is what you will look like if you let yourself go a little... okay, a lot. Go Bro, it's your birthday!

Christmas with the Crazies

Our annual Christmas with the Crazies took place last night and now it really feels like Christmas is just around the corner. We skipped the typical turkey and trimmings and hosted a pot luck instead this year, it was perfect! Less mess and less stress! EC took care of the tunes.

Jess made the best apple pie I have ever tasted and I intend to replicate it for our family shin digs, a frozen cheesecake or two will be waiting in the wings just in case. I'll share the recipe with you if all goes well.

I spent this morning clearing the wreckage from the pah-tay and the proceeded to procrastinate... eventually I managed to get my butt in gear and a few things were wiped off my TO DO list.

I finally got to Rosie's Christmas gift and I am stoked with the results. How cute is this tiny sundress?



A big thanks goes out to Habitual where I found this super sweet pattern.

I know it's December but I figure she can wear it over a long sleeve shirt and tights or leg warmers. Once Rosie's too big to wear this as a dress it can be work as a little tunic top. Super cute! This pattern is definitely a keeper.

I also whipped up this little crayon roll for my dad; he is stuffing Neve's stocking and was looking for a little something extra to add to it.



Remember to enter the draw for the ZipIt by leaving a comment on this post.

One Year Wiser!

This is a very belated Happy Birthday post for my fabulous husband. No I didn't forget his birthday, I just haven't wished him a happy day publicly. So here I am wishing my Michael a VERY happy 32nd birthday! I love you Miguel! I love you so much in fact that I'm willing to have you plastered all over some bombshell's bod. NOTE: That might sound like an open invitation but it's a once in a lifetime thang and since you're plastered all over the girl below the offer is now null and void.

A birthday post wouldn't be complete without a PhotoFunia pic.

Halloween Hangover

I ate far too many of the little chocolate bars meant for the goblins last night. I have a chocolate hangover. blech.

Of course nephews and niece were definitely the cutest trick or treaters stomping around town.

The Mario Brothers costumes Joanne pulled together turned out phenomenal if you ask me:

They've got the poses down pat.

And of course Princess Belle made an appearance.


Jess and I watched The Exorcist as planned last night. I arrived home at 130 am totally freaked out and planned to sit in the living room until Mike got home; that was until I checked my mail and realized Lola had sold. Her new home is in Savannah, Georgia! Thanks to the sale I was distracted and got over being creeped out.

Mike and I had planned to attend a Halloween party as zombies tonight, unfortunately Mike is really turning into one so we can no longer attend. He found out yesterday that what we thought were some nasty bug bites are actually shingles! Ick and ouch. Thankfully I've had the chicken pox; unfortunately we can't be sure everyone else has so we're skipping the bash.

I hope you had a wonderful Halloween and that you enjoyed my Blogtoberfest run this month, I can't believe October is gone already. I'm going to attempt to stick to the daily posting so be sure to stop on by regularly.

Still Going Strong

I'm sorry this is so late mom and dad. October 6th was a very special day; 36 years of marriage deserves to be recognized and celebrated. You are my inspiration, I love you both with all of my heart.

Congratulations!!

Your Heart Be Held With Tenderness originally uploaded by Imagemakercan

RIP Henry

I have one full belly.

Dinner at the Charcoal last night to celebrate my beautiful Aunt Sue's 50th birthday followed by Thanksgiving dinner number one tonight at Joanne and Paul's. I'm mega stuffed.

Joanne and Paul named the bird Henry. His full name was *drum roll please* Henry the 8. Get it?

Photo full belly originally uploaded by pinkorchid_too

Bring on the Birds

It is almost a guarantee that come Monday I will be in a self-induced turkey coma so if I skip a day of Blogtoberfest you can blame it on the birds. Yep it's that time again, Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.

Turkey, and stuffing and gravy OH MY!

Photo Talking Turkey originally uploaded by ReyGuy

Will Uncle Hans Join Blogtoberfest?

I don't know if you'll see any posts from Uncle Hans but I have decided to honor my hometown Oktoberfest boozefest in a less toxic way by joining in Big Cat Emporium's Blogtoberfest! Thanks to Two Peas in a Pod for sharing the idea.

Basically taking part in Blogtoberfest means intending to post on a daily basis throughout the month of October - there are also art swaps and giveaways involved and I do intend to host a giveaway here too! It won't be for a couple of weeks but I promise to do so before the month is up. Gingham Skies will have a little something to pass along - hopefully this will encourage some of you lurkers to post comments.

Feel like a challenge? Why not join in the Blogtoberfest fun, there's less chance of suffering from a hangover with this festival.

In Between Trapeze Bars

**Sorry about the 'alien speak' - I have fixed the oops and you should be able to read this post now**

No I have not started circus training, although that would be crazy fun wouldn't it?! I did stumble upon a piece of paper that a former colleague (the first teacher I worked with, a man named Jim who I truly admire) printed off and passed my way many years ago. I think he may have given it to me when I was just beginning to contemplate going back to school to work on my degree, or maybe it was was when I began talking marriage... or maybe... well you'll get the point when you read the words for yourself in just a minute.

I remember vividly reading The Fear of Transformation this for the first time and nodding my head thinking just how accurate it was. I haven't looked at if for years and do not remember when I stuffed it into the space next to my CPU but just a moment ago I tipped a pile of CDs over and while grumbling about having to stick my hand into the unknown I found it once again.
It's a little bit long but worth the read.

Fear of Transformation
From The Essene Book of Days

Sometimes I feel that my life is a series of trapeze swings. I'm either hanging on to a trapeze bar swinging along or, for a few moments in my life, I'm hurtling across space in between trapeze bars.

Most of the time, I spend my life hanging on for dear life to my trapeze-bar-of-the-moment. It carries me along a certain steady rate of swing and I have the feeling that I'm in control of my life. I know most of the right questions and even some of the right answers. But once in a while, as I'm merrily (or not so merrily) swinging along. I look ahead of me into the distance, and what do I see? I see another trapeze bar swinging toward me. It's empty, and I know, in that place that knows, that this new trapeze bar has my name on it. It is my next step, my growth, my aliveness going to get me. In my heart-of-hearts I know that for me to grow, I must release my grip on the present, well known bar to move to the new one.

Each time it happens to me, I hope (no, I pray) that I won't have to grab the new one. But in my knowing place I know that I must totally release my grasp on my old bar, and for some moment in time hurtle across space before I can grab onto the new bar. Each time I am filled with terror. It doesn't matter that in all my previous hurtles across the void of unknowing, I have always made it. Each time I am afraid I will miss, that I will be crushed on the unseen rocks in the bottomless chasm between the bars. But I do it anyways. Perhaps this is the essence of what the mystics call the faith experience. No guarantees, no net, no insurance policy, but you do it anyways because somehow, to keep hanging onto that old bar is no longer on the list of alternatives. And so for an eternity that can last a microsecond or a thousand lifetimes, I soar across the dark void of "the past is gong, the future is not yet here." It's called transition. I have come to believe that it is the only place that real change occurs. I mean real change, not the pseudo-change that only lasts until the next time my old buttons get punched.

I have noticed that, in our culture, this transition zone is looked upon as a "no-thing", a no-place between places. Sure the old trapeze-bar was real, and that new one coming towards me, I hope that's real too. But the void in between? That's just a scary, confusing, disorienting "nowhere" that must be gotten through as fast as possible. What a waste! I have a sneaking suspicion that the transition zone is the only real thing, and the bars are illusions we dream up to avoid, where the real change, the real growth occurs for us. Whether or not my hunch is true, it remains that the transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places. They should be honoured, even savored. Yes, with all the pain and fear and feelings of being out-of-control that can (but not necessarily) accompany transitions, they are still the most alive, most growth-filled, passionate, expansive moments in our lives.

And so, transformation of fear may have nothing to do with making fear go away, but rather with giving ourselves permission to "hang-out" in the transition between trapeze bars. Transforming our need to grab that new bar, any bar, is allowing ourselves to dwell in the only place where change really happens. It can be terrifying. It can also be enlightening, in the true sense of the word. Hurtling through the void, we just may learn how to fly.

*****

What do you think?
I think it's funny that I found it today because I'm in between bars right now but finally instead of feeling the intense stress, discomfort and confusion I felt the last time I was in between bars (a 3 year gap filled with full-time work and full-time school) I have given myself "permission to 'hang-out'" and it truly is enlightening... I think I just might be learning to fly.

This is how I like to spend my weekend.

Spending my weekend with friends and family laughing, singing and dancing makes for one fabulous weekend.

Mike and our niece at our Fiesta this weekend. THANKS MOM & DAD!!


Joanne, Paul and the boys at the "August Birthdays" party on Sunday.

Of course laying in the yard with a good book and a cold glass of water makes for a lovely weekend too and after this busy weekend that's exactly what I hope to do on Saturday.

Thanks to Bird Bath for this week's "This is..." theme, it was an awesome weekend which made it easy for me to post.

Happy 1st Birthday to ME!

Jabbering Jaime turns one today! So much has happened in this last year that it feels as if it has been much longer than a year since I started blogging. It should be interesting to see what happens between now and Jabbering Jaime's second birthday...

Cheers to all of my readers; thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings.

Happy Birthday Paul!!

Happy Birthday Paul from Mike and I... and Angelina too! I'm sure you would have never guessed it (hope you're catching the thick sarcasm here) but Mike chose the shot of Angelina for your Happy Birthday post.

Use your own photos for fun at this cool site: PhotoFunia.

14 Million Dollars!!

My brother-in-law Paul participated in an amazing fundraiser this past weekend: The Ride to Conquer Cancer. Participants rode 200 km (124.27 miles for my friends from the USA) on their bicycles in just two days!

Although tired and sore from his journey Paul crossed the finish line with an ear to ear smile plastered on his face. Seeing him and hundreds of other participants (2850 in total) cross that line was really an amazing feeling. It might sound cheesy but there was a real feeling of hope in the air. Although there were many seasoned cyclists taking part in the ride the majority of the participants were average Joes: people of all shapes, sizes and ages. Unbelievable... 200 km!

This was the first year the fundraiser took place and a jaw dropping total of 14 million dollars was raised for The Princess Margaret - one of the 5 leading cancer research hospitals in the world - the money will go directly to the highest cancer research priorities! 14 MILLION DOLLARS!! That just blows my mind.

Kudos to you Paul! I am in awe of you and your accomplishment, congratulations!

Happy Father's Day!!

My dad is the best dad on earth. Seriously.

I love him more than words could ever express. He is a wonderful one-of-a-kind man who I am proud to call not only my father but my friend.

I love you dad!! Happy Father's Day!!

Better Late Than Never

So this is a crazy ridiculously late Happy Birthday wish to my dad!! I did not forget his birthday but I did forget to post on his special day back on April 12th, for no reason other than the fact that I'm a bonehead... and he was sunning himself in North Carolina on the actual day so maybe secretly I was angry and punishing him. Bad dad. Here I am a month later saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most magnificent man in my world. I love you dad!

A cute shot of the best parents on the face of the earth with their hot fudge brownie sundae birthday treats. The candles were cacti plopped on top of melting ice cream, quite funny to see in real time.

Unfortunately this is the only shot from the birthday pah-tay. I wish I could post a video of now three years old Neve in Mike's lap, little arms wrapped around his neck, gazing into his eyes saying in a hushed voice, "I love you Tickle Monster." Too cute.

29 Again!

Today is the birthday of the most fabulous woman in my world: my mom. Happy Birthday Mom!


She'll be thrilled that I posted this pic here, this is right before we headed to Pilate's this evening. Here she's showing off her latest fix, mom has a serious purse addiction, I must say I'm pleased with this lovely bag. Why? Well it was a gift from me to mom and I made it.
More on that later...

A cup of tea, a game of scrabble and an hour of stretching with my most favorite girl; I certainly enjoyed your birthday evening mom and hope you did too. I love you birthday girl!!

Easter Giggles

Emily has a new mom...

Actually Neve is the new mom, Uncle Mike was just babysitting in the pic above. Mike is Neve's favorite toy when the family gets together, you can see from the pic above why this might be: he's like a giant doll that Neve can dress up and boss around. I love watching the two of them having fun together. My husband is going to be an amazing father one day.

Take a guess at what Neve, Daddy (aka big bro John) and Uncle Mikey are up to in this shot... isn't it obvious? They're swimming in Mexico.

Hugging daddy, or maybe strangling him...



Leaving the "customers" to swim without supervision.



Clinging to daddy - such a cutie!